Collapsible net-carrying structure



DEC. 2@, 1949 D E E COLLAPSIBLE NET-CARRYING STRUCTURE Nov NVENTOK Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFIG-E COLLAPSIBLE. NET-CARRYING STRUCTURE Dale E. Bell, Grinnell, Iowa Application November 4, 1946, Serial Manama l 1, Claim. (Cr s-12) Thislinvention relates to collapsible net structuresand has particular relation to a collapsible. dip net, for catching fish, butterflies and the like.

Present net carrying structures have the disadvantage that they require both hands of the user to. either collapse the net arms in folded position, or to open the net arms in locked position. Moreover, present net carrying structures have the further disadvantage that they cannot be readily collapsed or positively locked merely by the application of force by one finger of one hand of the user.

Anobject of the present invention is to. provide a novel hinge structure which is particularly adapted for use in adip. net.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, dip net which may be readily collapsed and extended by one hand of the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a net supporting device which may be readily collapsed and positively locked by the application of force by one finger of onehand of the user.

These and other objects of the invention will betreadllyunderstood by reference to the followingfdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved dip net, particularly illustrating the folded position of the parts and showing the net readily mounted for carrying;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the net in its extended position, the parts being viewed from the inside of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hinge and latch portion of the net, the net carrying arms being shown in extended position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partially sectional and elevational view of the hinge structure, illustrating the act of retracting the latch sleeve and showing the net carrying arms in partially collapsed position; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge and latch assembly.

The folding net of the present invention generally comprises a handle, a yoke carried by the handle and provided with diverging faces, diverging, net-carrying arms pivoted to said yoke and bearing against said diverging faces, the arms being extended inwardly beyond their pivots to form locking studs, abutment means cooperating with the locking studs for limiting the unfolding 2 movement. of the diverging arms, and a locking; member .slidable longitudinally of the handleand engageable with the locking studsfor lockingthe diverging arms in extended position. i

Referring now to the drawings:

Figs. 1 to 6 illustrate an embodiment of the. present invention adapted for use in-a dip. net. which includes a handle 10 convenientlyprq vided with a frictionalbase cover H for standing thenet structureon its base. Thahandle:

i0 is also conveniently provided with aspring; catch l2 which is adapted to snap. oven the, belt of the user for carrying purposes; Thehandle;

is extended by means of a couplingltin which.

is secured a handle extension i4. .Thethandlek extension. it terminates ina yoke i5 whichf is provided with diverging faces; i6. Fig; 6 and in the embodiment shown, isqfurther provided with abutment shoulders. I 1 having abutment faces 3.; A. pair of diverging, net-carrying arms- 20 are provided at their hinge. ends withfilocking, studs 2! andare pivotally mounted byl the locking; studs 2|. to theyoke. [5 adjacent the..divergingfaces [6. as by means of set screws-$22., The

arms 20 are connectedat their. extendedends}. by means of a resilientmember 23 comprising a,

leather thong or rubber band, the, arms, 20; -andthe resilient. member 2 i servingto carry alnet. 24.. v

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, in-' elusive, the locking studs 2| are provided with abutment ends 25 which cooperate with the abutment faces l8 of the shoulders I1 for limiting the unfolding movement of the diverging arms 20. The locking studs 2i are further provided with inwardly and transversely extending lugs 26 adapted to cooperate and abut the yoke I5 for limiting the unfolding movement of the diverging arms 20.

Slidably mounted on the handle extension H is a locking member or sleeve 30 provided with a projection 3| having a longitudinally extended inner abutment face 32 adapted to cooperate with and abut the locking studs 2| for preventing the collapsible movement of the diverging arms 20. The sleeve 30 is further provided with an abutment end 33 which is adapted to cooperate with the lugs 26 for limiting the unfolding movement of the diverging arms 20. The sleeve 3|] is urged over the locking studs 2|, against the shoulders I1 and against the lugs 26, as by means of a resilient member or spring 34, thereby positively locking the hinge structure.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, after the locking studs seat against their respective stops, so that arms 20 are in alinement with M, they are locked in such position by the sliding collar 30, which slides over the ends of the locking studs.

The net-carrying structure is conveniently carried in collapsed position by the user by means of the spring catch I2, as shown in Fig. 1, and it may be readily brought into use by grippin the handle ID with one hand, disengaging the spring catch I2 from the belt of the wearer, and flipping the net-carrying arms outwardly away from the handle l0, thereby unfolding the arms 20 in diverging paths. The arms 20 unfold. in a diverging path due to the fact that the locking studs 2| carrying the arms 20 are pivotally mounted adjacent and bear against the diverging faces I 6 of the yoke I5. It will be apparent that the abutment ends of lugs 26 bear against the abutment end 33 of the locking sleeve 30, displacing the sleeve and compressing the spring 34. The unfolding movement of the arms 20 continues until the abutment ends 25 of lugs 26 have passed contact with the abutment end 33 of the locking sleeve 30. At this point the sleeve 30 is urged toward the yoke l5 by the sprin 34 until the abutment end 33 of the sleeve 30 contacts the lugs 25, the inner abutment face 32 of the sleeve 30 abutting the lockin stud 2!, thereby preventing collapsing movement of the diverging arms. In addition, the lugs 26 mounted on the locking studs 2| abut the yoke 15, thereby preventing further unfolding movement of the arms 20.

From'the'foregoing description it is apparent that the novel hinge and latch structure of the present invention provides both positive locking and collapsing means.

' When the unfolding movement of the arms 20 has been limited by the abutment means, the inner abutment face 32 of the locking sleeve 30 is in contact with the locking studs 2|, thereby positively preventing reversemotion or collapsing of the net structure. In collapsing the net structure, the'user slides the locking sleeve 30 away from the yoke against the pressure of spring 33 until the inner abutment face 32 is out of contact with the locking studs 2| whereby the arms 20 are freed for collapsing movement. If the handle of the net is held in a horizontal position with the abutment projection 3| upright and with the sleeve 30 retracted out of contact with the upper face of the locking studs 21, the force of gravity acting on the arms 20, will serve to collapse the net.

It will be understood that the present invention is subject to various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A folding net comprising a handle, a yoke carried by said handle at one end thereof, a pair of net carrying arms pivoted to said yoke, said arms having a shorter portion just inwardly of their pivotal axes, said shorter portions being provided with inwardly and transversely extending stop lugs movable with said shorter portions and adapted to bear against one face of said yoke, said shorter portions being provided with abutment ends for limiting the movement of said arms in one direction, said yoke having abutment faces adapted to be engaged by said abutment ends to limit movement of said arms in said one direction, and a spring pressed collar having an extended flange adapted to slideover said abutment ends to limit the movement of said arms in the opposite direction, with said stop lugs in engagement with one face of said yoke, said collar flange contactin said abutment ends and said stop lugs in one position thereof.

DALE E. BELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 488,095 Scott et al Dec. 13, 1892 2,093,455 Knight Sept. 21, 1937' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,560 Great Britain A. D. 1885 9,804 Great Britain A. D. 1895 12,887 Great Britain A. D. 1896 425,565 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1935 6166/32 Australia Feb. 17, 1932 

